* * *

“Oof…!”

“Cough, ahem!”

The noble financiers tried hard to hold back their laughter.

“Well, Duke Phaeraton is certainly a wealthy man. He must have given a large sum of money to Marquis Tarenka.”

Duke Iskamil spoke kindly to me, as if he were looking at a cute little child boasting, ‘My dad is the best in the world!’

“But mining mana stones is a very complicated business. You can’t just mine them as you please just because you’re a mine owner. You need a license.”

“Preparing for a license costs money, getting a license costs money, and even when mining, you need to use highly skilled professionals with certificates and expensive equipment.”

In short, it means that this is a business that requires an enormous amount of money.

“Yes, I know.”

I puffed out my cheeks.

“But my dad can afford all that money, right?”

My dad had a diamond mine!

“That’s… true.”

See!

“If he knew that the mana stones were full of mana and invested in them, why did he give only a little money? He could have just eaten it all up!”

Of course, even if you have a lot of money and are guaranteed profits, you don’t invest everything.

Fund management is not that simple.

But before the financiers could point that out, I slyly opened my mouth.

“I’m really curious about Uncle’s thoughts!”

As the arrow pointed towards him, Marquis Tarenka’s already rotten face became even more rotten.

“It’s not a bad idea to make money steadily and safely by getting investments from multiple people.”

“Steadily… what?”

“But mining mana stones? They said it’s so complicated?”

In the end, from Marquis Tarenka’s perspective, this low-risk, low-return business became a reality.

Since there are many issues with mining mana stones, it is not a business to choose for ‘small but stable income.’

“Why is my Uncle! Urgently! Pursuing a mining business?”

As I deliberately opened my eyes wide and innocently asked, Marquis Tarenka tightly bit his teeth.

[Marquis Tarenka is concerned about the reader’s educational level.]

Yeah, I learn better than you.

“And did my dad say he didn’t have enough money?”

I took out a bunch of papers from my arms.

“Ch-checkbook?”

Yeah.

There’s no way there would be records of issuing cheques in Phaeraton.

“Why don’t we add up the money Dad gave Uncle over the past three years?”

I grinned.

Duke Delvatren took the checkbook from my hand, and his expression clearly hardened as he flipped through a few pages.

“Even with this, the money Dad gave isn’t enough?”

He nodded.

Blink, blink.

[Marquis Tarenka is concerned about the well-being of your parents.]

Yeah, my dad is doing really well.

“…The money Phaeraton has given in the past year alone is sufficient.”

“Oh, I see! Uncle is definitely not lacking money! In fact, he’s overflowing with it!”

[Marquis Tarenka wants to perform surgical procedures on some parts of the reader’s body.]

Oh, you want to mess with my little nose?

Oh, what should I do?

“But it’s weird, isn’t it? Why do you want to get investment from those lower nobles?”

I’m going to complain more!

“He must have wanted to share all the remaining money from selling mana stones! Uncle is a true philanthropist!”

I clapped my hands and laughed.

[Marquis Tarenka feels a fierce urge to stop the reader’s vital signs.]

Oh, shut up!

“The talk about Phaeraton’s investment must be false.”

“It wasn’t like he needed the investment because he didn’t have enough money for mining.”

“Instead, if he used the money from Phaeraton, he could have monopolized the profits.”

The three exchanged heavy glances.

“If he didn’t engage in philanthropy towards us, as this child says, there is only one answer.”

I inwardly laughed and pretended to be innocent, bringing my finger to my cheek.

“Come to think of it, there were a lot of visitors at Uncle’s house this spring and summer!”

“Related to mining personnel.”

“At that time, they had already mined mana stones.”

“The mined mana stones were empty.”

Right, right.

He sold mana stones, thinking he could pocket all of the childcare expenses Dad gave him, but it turned out to be a big failure.

Since he had wasted the money he had, he must have wanted to make up for the loss.

‘That’s why you came up with this plan.’

Even if the mined mana stones were empty, everything would be over after it was done.

‘The responsibility for investment lies with the individual.’

These three probably turned the loss around.

Perhaps Phaeraton was also involved in Marquis’s fraud and was an accomplice.

No, if it was Marquis Tarenka he definitely did that.

“A-hem! All the riddles are solved! The truth is always one!”

I pointed my index finger at Uncle and said,

“Then Uncle! Will you give it back?”

I held out my palm with my other fingers spread out and boasted,

“?My daddy’s money!”

* * *

“Oh my? What are you talking about, Uncle!”

I shouted with my eyes wide open.

“Are you really just going to give me the ownership and mining rights for the mana stone mine?”

“Isn’t that what your dad asked for?”

“Uhh, Ruru thought Uncle might be sensitive about it, so I just mentioned those two things!”

I tilted my head and shuddered with disgust as Marquis Tarenka grew angrier.

“Really, you’re only going to give that back? Really? Really?”

[Marquis Tarenka hopes his fist collides with the reader’s face.]

Great reaction!

“If an adult borrows money from a child, they should be willing to pay more interest!”

I pouted and stuck out my lips.

“You’re not even returning everything you took, just what I mentioned!”

Even I found myself detestable.

“Oh, you were just testing me, right? Right? Uncle wouldn’t be so shameless as to not have any dignity!”

Maybe Marquis Tarenka will collapse from anger.

[Marquis Tarenka stops emotional activity for 3 seconds due to severe dizziness.]

Yes, that’s right.

I felt like I discovered a talent I didn’t know I had!

“Do you think you’ll get away with this for another year?”

“Yeah! Definitely!”

I shouted with a big smile.

Marquis Tarenka can’t harm me here and now!

“Huh…….”

Marquis Tarenka, who had exhausted even his energy to be angry, grabbed his head.

“Ugh, fine. Just say what you want and leave.”

“Okay, I won’t be picky.”

After taking a deep breath, I listed all the property I wanted.

“You said a lot of resources and equipment went into mining mana stones, right? You already contracted all of that. And you bought a villa at a resort. You bragged to me about going to the resort with Clatie in the summer. And in the world of romance-fantasy novels, I always wanted to go horseback riding. I heard you have a stable, and also…”

My story continued for over five minutes.

Marquis Tarenka’s yelling was a bonus.

‘He told me to say what I wanted, why is he getting upset?’

I left the Marquis’s office free from worries and fully immersed in the present moment and humming a tune, while holding a thick stack of documents in my hand.

‘I’m rich! Yes!’

As I stepped into the hallway, an alert popped up.

[Quest ?Revenge is Mine!(1)? has been completed.]

[You have received a reward of 3000 cash lottery tickets.]

[The reader’s influence within the Duchy of Phaeraton has greatly increased!]

[Linked quest ?My Fortune Never Stops!(1)? has arrived.]

[You have recovered a large amount of property beyond the conditions!]

[Additional rewards will be given!]

[Duke Delvatren is impressed with your actions!]

[Duke Iskamil is amazed and grateful to you!]

[Marquis Sherdel is surprised by your logical skills!]

[You have received admiration from many high-ranking nobles!]

[The three of them will remember today’s events and you!]

‘Oh, nice!’ It was a truly delightful notification.

I was laughing when it happened.

[Penalties will be applied again as the quest has ended.]

…What?

No, so suddenly like this?

I wasn’t mentally prepared yet… my rationality…

“Princess.”

Then someone called my name.

The Dukes and Marquis were standing there.

“It’s Ruatisha!”

I have a name!

I proudly announced it.

“So your name is Ruatisha.”

Duke Iskamil smiled and patted my head.

“My mother gave it to me!”

“If the Duchess gave it to you, that’s great.”

“And I’m four years old.”

I pretended to show off, holding up four fingers.

“Four years old? It’s hard to believe that the cleverness from earlier was from a four-year-old…”

“Phaeraton has produced another remarkable heir candidate.”

“That family should stop making trouble now.”

Tsk, Duke Delvatren clicked his tongue and asked me.

“One riddle remains. Why did Duke Phaeraton give such a large sum of money to Marquis Tarenka?”

“Ooh! That riddle! I know the answer!”

The noblemen looked at me with curious faces.

‘Why don’t they know this obvious thing?’

But when it came time to speak, I was embarrassed.

I fidgeted with my hands and lifted my heels slightly.

I put one hand to my mouth and whispered.

“That’s because Dad loves me…!”

The noblemen looked at me with blank faces.

I became even more embarrassed.

“It’s not a secret, I just…”

“Well, if you have a daughter like this, you’ll die happy. She’s smart and lovely.”

Duke Iskamil patted my head with a smile.

“Hehe. I also love Dad the most in the world!”

“…Should I give you some candy? We have delicious candy at our house.”

“No, Duke Delvatren. Why are you acting so out of character? Finding the child cute.”

“This child saved us from millions in losses, of course, they’re cute. A real bundle of joy.”

“Well, it’s not just because of that, it seems.”

Watching the bickering noblemen, theold vassalwhispered in my ear.

“You should go back now. If you’re too late, His Excellency will worry.”

Oh, right!

Dad said he’s waiting and had some chocolate cake!

“Goodbye, noble sirs! I have to go eat a little cake!”

I waved, and the noblemen waved back.

Duke Delvatren, for some reason, lowered his hand in the middle and stared at my hand.

I’m a well-mannered and polite child!

“Hmm, heung, heuheung~ Cake! Cake!”

I hummed a tune and set off with the old vassal and Marquis Tarenka.

* * *

“What’s the matter, Marquis Sherdel.”

“Well, I think I’ve seen that child somewhere before.”

“Where on earth? Wasn’t the Princess of Phaeraton been hidden all this time? If you saw a child like that, you wouldn’t forget it.”

Marquis Sherdel was silent for a moment.

Why did he think of the child who worked in this house?

The child who was trembling with fear, unable to meet Marquis Tarenka’s eyes.

“No, I must have been mistaken. That’s not possible. It’s completely different.”

Duke Iskamil, who was quietly listening to Marquis Sherdel’s words, smiled slightly.

“Children have truly amazing resilience.”

“Excuse me?”

“They may be weak, but they’re actually stronger than adults.”

“…….”

“Like trees that grow surprisingly differently depending on the soil they’re planted in.”

Duke Delvatren, who had been dozing off, opened his mouth.

“But that’s also because the seed has boundless potential.”

The three of them looked in one direction.

At the end of their gaze, Phaeraton’s carriage was crossing the Marquis’s garden.

“I wonder how it will grow.”

* * *

“Miss.”

“Didn’t we have a promise?”

The old vassal asked me with a very serious face.

“Promise? Did I make a promise with you?”

Did I ever do that?

“You’re really too much, Miss!”

The old vassal became completely distraught and shouted.

“But why do you say you’re too much to me?”

“I’m a good kid. I’m not a bad kid.”

“…That’s true.”

“Isn’t it?”

“But you have to keep your promise! I endured the Marquis’s insults, which were not enough to satisfy me even if I chewed them up! Only for you!”

“Hmm? But what promise?”

When I opened my eyes wide and asked, he crumbled.

“You’re too much. How badly I wanted to punch the Marquis’s face… I endured it all, huh, for you…”

Theold vassalwho had left began to shed tears with a devastated face.

“Hey, don’t cry.”

Pat pat.

“Sigh, Miss…”

“But can you really punch him? You said you were a man of liberal arts.”

“You’re really too much!”

Okay, I’ll stop teasing you. Sorry.

‘I couldn’t help it because it was funny.’

Kids always enjoy teasing adults.

I’m only half-four years old right now, so that’s why. Theold vassalunderstands.

“Ehehe, you’re all teary-eyed.”

I wiped the old vassal’s face quickly.

“Now, blow your nose!”

“No, that’s a bit…”

“Blow!”

I grabbed the old vassal’s nose.

Then it happened.

“…You seem to get along very well with my daughter.”

A voice that was more blunt than a burning flame was heard.